Shri Raghunath Temple, Kullu

01The raja’s penance

The Kullu chronicle tells that Raja Jagat Singh, wanting a Brahmin’s pearls that did not exist, drove the man and his family to burn themselves in their house, and the raja was struck by the sin of brahmahatya; his food, it is said, looked to him like worms. A Vaishnava sadhu, Krishnadas Payahari, told him that only Shri Raghunath could free him. His disciple Damodar Das went to Ayodhya and brought back the murti of Raghunath from the Tretanath temple there. The raja washed the murti’s feet, drank the water, and was healed. He gave his kingdom to Raghunath and ruled from then on as his chief servant.

02Kullu Dussehra

Kullu’s Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami, the day the rest of India ends it. Raghunath is carried down to the Dhalpur maidan on a great wooden rath, and the village devtas of the valley, two hundred and more, come in their palanquins to pay court to him; Hidimba Devi of Manali must arrive before the rath moves. The fair lasts seven days and ends with the Lanka Dahan by the Beas. The royal family of Kullu still serves as chhadibardar, the bearers of the staff, in the rites.

The life of this place